Wellbore Hydrate Production Water Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Methane hydrate production faces challenges such as excessive water and sand production leading to slugging and equipment wear, and the risk of hydrate re-formation in subsea systems, which complicates flow control and increases costs due to the need for chemical inhibitors and heating systems.
Innovation Solution
A system that separates the water component from a multi-phase gas and water mixture within the wellbore using a flow line, flow control device, and sensor arrangement, allowing for controlled flow and reducing the risk of hydrate re-formation by handling single-phase fluids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high production rate is used to increase methane extraction efficiency, then productivity is improved, but excessive water and sand production occurs causing slugging and equipment wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the production stream into separate phases by introducing a gas lift fluid through a flow line. This segments the multi-phase flow (gas, water, sand) into distinct streams, allowing water and sand to be separated from the methane production stream, thereby reducing slugging and equipment wear while maintaining high productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses gas lift fluid as an intermediary substance injected through a flow line to modify the production dynamics. This intermediary gas phase helps to lift and separate water and sand from the methane stream, reducing harmful water and sand production at the surface while maintaining high methane extraction rates
2Reliability
If pressure and temperature return to hydrate forming conditions, then methane hydrate re-forms in production equipment, but using chemical inhibitors and heating systems increases operational costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the water component from the production stream by introducing gas lift fluid that preferentially associates with water and sand, separating them from the methane phase. By removing water (a key component for hydrate formation) from the production equipment, the system prevents hydrate re-formation without requiring chemical inhibitors or heating systems
Solution Approach 2:
The gas lift fluid system automatically prevents hydrate re-formation through the physical separation of water and methane phases. The system self-regulates by maintaining phase separation through the injected gas, eliminating the need for external chemical inhibitors or active heating systems to prevent hydrate formation
3Productivity
If multi-phase mixture is transported to surface, then production fluid can be produced, but hydrate re-formation occurs in subsea equipment and equipment wear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the production fluid into separate phases (gas, water, sand) using gas lift injection through a flow line. This segmentation occurs in-situ in the wellbore, preventing the formation of hydrates during transport and reducing equipment wear by separating abrasive solids from the main production stream before surface transport
Solution Approach 2:
The injected gas lift fluid acts as an intermediary that modifies the transport characteristics of the production mixture. It creates a gas-dominated flow regime that prevents hydrate formation and reduces friction and wear on production equipment while maintaining efficient transport of methane to the surface
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces equipment wear, lowers operational costs, and enhances production efficiency by eliminating hydrate re-formation and enabling better control over flow rates, thereby improving the availability and reliability of methane hydrate production.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor arrangement comprising one or more sensors configured to detect a water level of said water component in the wellbore and output an output signal indicative of said water level
Implementation Method 2
a flow control device provided on or operatively associated with the first flow line
Implementation Method 3
the system is configured to separate a water component from a multi-phase gas and water mixture present in a wellbore
Data Source
AI summary
A system for hydrate production is configured to separate a water component from a multi-phase gas and water mixture present in a wellbore, the system being configured such that said separation occurs within the wellbore. The system comprises a first flow line disposed in the wellbore and arranged such that an inlet of the first flow line is disposed in and receives the water component, so as to separate the water component from said multi-phase gas and water mixture. A control system is configured to receive an output signal indicative of the water level from a sensor arrangement of the system and control a flow control device based on the water level so as to control the flow of the water component through the first flow line.